FP+ Work Around, how to get more FP in a day thread?

[momof2n2]

I suspect that Disney is more likely to pay attention if they see this work around in a blog. They seem to be mostly ignoring people who send them messages nowadays so this blog might just alert someone.

I don't know why there is all of this fuss over things being made public. First Disney is secretive as can be and then those who love and support Disney are supposed to keep things quiet too? I think that it's Disney's responsibility to handle these things, not Kenny the Pirate's.

I always agree with Planogirl's assessments. I do again this morning.

KTP - Amazing detective work. I don't think I'd use it as I'm a worrier with 9 fellow travels. Many would cry if I lost their ride with my non-techie attempts to pull it off. But I am glad you found their loophole.

 

[momof2n2]

Remember folks...... this is in testing. I really wish people would remember that.

Isn't this the sort of thing testing is supposed to fix? Disney should send him a big thank you for doing what they probably should have paid someone to do.

Yup - it's testing. Any surprises are allowed and we should smile and nod. Smile and nod.

Disney should hire KTP. Or give him a few anything FP+ tickets.

 

[mom2rtk]

Disney should hire KTP. Or give him a few anything FP+ tickets.

Not that he needs the FPs though!

I do find it quite amusing though that everyone should smile and put their thousands of dollars up for use in Disney's test and just "go with the flow" every time something goes wrong. But heads start exploding when someone finds a loophole and potential advantage to being part of the test.

And yes, I get that this would mess up the system for others if everyone started doing it. But honestly, I'm sure Disney will fix this. And fix it far faster because KTP put it in his blog.

 

[momof2n2]

Not that he needs the FPs though!

I do find it quite amusing though that everyone should smile and put their thousands of dollars up for use in Disney's test and just "go with the flow" every time something goes wrong. But heads start exploding when someone finds a loophole and potential advantage to being part of the test.

And yes, I get that this would mess up the system for others if everyone started doing it. But honestly, I'm sure Disney will fix this. And fix it far faster because KTP put it in his blog.

Most people won't try it.
The ones who do should be "rewarded" with the extra rides as their trip, as a whole, will be remembered for having their face stuck on a pokey app.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Well, I think people staying at POP should be encouraged to do this.

 

[no1steelerfn]

We were just there and we did not have any problems with the App. Not one. We loved using it. I don't understand why everyone says that.

 

[mom2rtk]

We were just there and we did not have any problems with the App. Not one. We loved using it. I don't understand why everyone says that.

Maybe because everyone had their own experience as opposed to sharing your experience?

 

[Disneylover99]

We were just there and we did not have any problems with the App. Not one. We loved using it. I don't understand why everyone says that.

People say it, because people have problems with it. For us, we got a lot of freezing or error messages, or everything is unavailable at this time.

Glad it worked out for you though.

 

[wn01aa]

I don't think anyone should ever defend Disney with fairness right now, especially with how they have created so many levels of unfair with the testing. People (like me) who booked at POP were told in September that we could use both FP+ and FP-. Then they secretly (didn't see any announced from them to me about their promise being broken) pulled FP- from POP with no notice and for a lot of people no chance to switch resorts. If the mouse is being completely open and not secretive I am sure they tell each check-in that while every other resort is giving out KTTW to access FP-, they will be lucky ones and only get the MagicBands so they can't use the FP machines like every other resort guest (doubt that is in their check-in speech). If it is still only POP doing this mid December maybe I will leave "handouts" all over the resort to inform guests about this. Might make it interesting for guest services desk with every guest knowing the truth. Then I will do whatever I have to do to gain access to the FP- machines (May be impossible but need to try) to try prevent myself from being screwed over by the mouse. Not happy with Disney right now, not very magical.

 

[WillAustin]

Remember folks...... this is in testing. I really wish people would remember that.

Isn't this the sort of thing testing is supposed to fix? Disney should send him a big thank you for doing what they probably should have paid someone to do.

Yes. This is something that should have been caught internally months ago.

 

[lucyem]

KTP

Good for you!

This is a testing period and I think things like this need to be found. I am also glad you posted it online. I see no difference between this and getting extra FP- on top of FP+. And really how many people are going to take the time to do this? During a busy holiday week I cannot imagine there will be other options for times for the big rides where there are limited other options (TSMM, TT & Soarin). As of last week I cannot even switch my TSMM time for Wed Dec 4th.

 

[lauradis]

Haven't read all the drama but possible cheat/loophole . Schedule one person for each ride. Person that is schedule for ride goes first. Then others in party wouldn't flash green but hey they are with me and with all the cranky people cm are getting over this they wave you thru.

That 9 fp+ day for family of 3

Last day at Disney my dd was scheduled just same as us but her band didn't flash green at any of the fp+ return lines. Not one cast member said word.

 

[wisblue]

I looked at KTP's description of how to fool and cheat the FP+ system. With my very crude understanding of how a system like this might work, it looks like there is at least some small time gap using a FP+ and the system recognizing that you have used it. I don't know if he tried this often enough in different ways to see how long that gap exists. Maybe it's just a couple of seconds and maybe it's a few minutes or longer.

Also, at a very crude level I could see a few ways that Disney could fix this issue. One would be for the system to prohibit changing a FP+ reservation during the time window in which it could be used. And, while that would solve this issue, it would also make the system less flexible for people who want to use the system in the way for which it is intended. That would eliminate the ability to change a reservation if you find out when you get to the ride that you don't really need a FP because the standby line is so short. It would also prevent you from changing a FP+ reservation if you find that you are in a different part of the park when your return time comes up and you don't feel like running across the park to use it.

I give KTP credit for trying this out to see if it works. I would guess that Disney knows that it works this way and has been willing to live with this small loophole because of the likelihood that very few people would know about this and/or be willing to go through the steps to do it. But, once it becomes common knowledge, and more people take advantage of it, they may be forced to resolve the issue by making it less flexible.

I could compare this to the practice of not enforcing return times on FPs. If only a few people know that the windows aren't enforced, there is really no harm done. But, once it becomes common knowledge, and a significant number of people start taking advantage of it by rounding up FPs all day with the intention of using them at night, it disrupts the distribution of FPs and has to be changed.

So, while you are hailing KTP as a genius and a hero for discovering and publicizing this hole in the system, keep in mind that the end result may be a less flexible system than you would really like.

I really don't know if it is possible to design a system like this that could instantly communicate from the touch points at the attractions to the reservation system to alert it that a FP+ reservation has been used. But, if it does take a few seconds, and in that amount of time a guest could push the "done" button on his phone to change the reservation that has already been used, closing the loophole may produce a result you don't like. At some point there may have to be a tradeoff between flexibility and the security and integrity of the system.

 

[Missyrose]

I looked at KTP's description of how to fool and cheat the FP+ system. With my very crude understanding of how a system like this might work, it looks like there is at least some small time gap using a FP+ and the system recognizing that you have used it. I don't know if he tried this often enough in different ways to see how long that gap exists. Maybe it's just a couple of seconds and maybe it's a few minutes or longer.

Also, at a very crude level I could see a few ways that Disney could fix this issue. One would be for the system to prohibit changing a FP+ reservation during the time window in which it could be used. And, while that would solve this issue, it would also make the system less flexible for people who want to use the system in the way for which it is intended. That would eliminate the ability to change a reservation if you find out when you get to the ride that you don't really need a FP because the standby line is so short. It would also prevent you from changing a FP+ reservation if you find that you are in a different part of the park when your return time comes up and you don't feel like running across the park to use it.

I give KTP credit for trying this out to see if it works. I would guess that Disney knows that it works this way and has been willing to live with this small loophole because of the likelihood that very few people would know about this and/or be willing to go through the steps to do it. But, once it becomes common knowledge, and more people take advantage of it, they may be forced to resolve the issue by making it less flexible.

I could compare this to the practice of not enforcing return times on FPs. If only a few people know that the windows aren't enforced, there is really no harm done. But, once it becomes common knowledge, and a significant number of people start taking advantage of it by rounding up FPs all day with the intention of using them at night, it disrupts the distribution of FPs and has to be changed.

So, while you are hailing KTP as a genius and a hero for discovering and publicizing this hole in the system, keep in mind that the end result may be a less flexible system than you would really like.

I really don't know if it is possible to design a system like this that could instantly communicate from the touch points at the attractions to the reservation system to alert it that a FP+ reservation has been used. But, if it does take a few seconds, and in that amount of time a guest could push the "done" button on his phone to change the reservation that has already been used, closing the loophole may produce a result you don't like. At some point there may have to be a tradeoff between flexibility and the security and integrity of the system.

Read it again. He's done it multiple times to ensure he is right about the 30-minute gap. He didn't just try this once and post it on his blog, he has done methodical research on this.

 

[wisblue]

Haven't read all the drama but possible cheat/loophole . Schedule one person for each ride. Person that is schedule for ride goes first. Then others in party wouldn't flash green but hey they are with me and with all the cranky people cm are getting over this they wave you thru.

That 9 fp+ day for family of 3

Last day at Disney my dd was scheduled just same as us but her band didn't flash green at any of the fp+ return lines. Not one cast member said word.

This is a great idea for people who have no problems whatsoever with lying and cheating to gain an edge.

And what a great lesson to teach your children! Don't worry about playing by the rules as long as you can get away with cheating. So what if I don't really have a disability that keeps me from standing in lines? Just get that GAC card and jump to the head of the line in front of all of those saps who play by the rules.

Remember the words of Jiminy Cricket: "Always let your conscience be your guide".

 

[wisblue]

Read it again. He's done it multiple times to ensure he is right about the 30-minute gap. He didn't just try this once and post it on his blog, he has done methodical research on this.

Sorry, I didn't read it that closely because I just wanted to get the idea of how it worked because I have no intention of doing this myself.

If the gap is as long as 30 minutes, then maybe the only answer, at least for the time being, would be for the system to prohibit changes during or for a time after the return window.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Great hack. I won't go adjusting my FP+ return times until I get there and can confirm it is still working. I am doing my best trying not to assume what is today, will be tomorrow. For now, I am going to keep my return times best as if there will be no hacks, then do the best I can do once we arrive.

 

[Magpie]

I read through Kenny's guide, and honestly it looks like waaaay too much work for me.

I think I'm happy enough just muddling through with my 3 FP+, even if two of the ones I picked for HS are utterly useless. This is why we go during (relatively) quiet times!

I'm confident we'll get to ride everything we want to ride, and still have time to stop and watch the street performers, and that's good enough for me.

 

[wn01aa]

The answer would seem to be they need to keep tracked of what is scanned. So if it is about to be changed to a new attraction, the system would read that it has been used already and not valid for switching, so an error message comes up (as usual) and you have the remaining ones left.

This trick is very similar to the people who shop Black Friday. They add an item which will be on sale Friday to their shopping cart on Thursday night. The system holds that in their cart for 12 hours or so. Once the sale starts, they check out. This seems to be taking advantage of the same sort of thing. When you want sports tickets at ticketmaster online, they search availability and you are given X amount of time to decide if you want to go through with it. During that time, the systems puts a hold on those tickets so someone else can't take it.

With FP+, they let you look for a new ride to replace and when found, hold it for you for a certain time limit while you decide (looks like 30min).

Also, Disney is already cheating me with no KTTW card access at POP, so I would have no problem with it for those guests who are getting the shaft.

 

[surferdave]

I would guess that Disney knows that it works this way and has been willing to live with this small loophole because of the likelihood that very few people would know about this and/or be willing to go through the steps to do it.

I think you're absolutely right that Disney (or rather, someone at Disney) knew about this. It probably shook out pretty easily early during CM testing. They probably don't consider it a bug in their system because it's a normal time lag between a Data Acquisition System and a queuing software product that they didn't develop that is used in MDE.

I don't believe you're right that there has ever been a small likelihood of lots of people knowing about it, it's too easy for anyone who's in the parks a lot to try. I might have done it myself if I was there often enough to make the experimentation worth my time.

I think that if there is anyone at Disney that understands MDE & FP+ well enough to understand this loophole, they know the other limitations of the system and the early scheduling of any attractions worth having are going to make it inconsequential anyway. If any of them have read Kenny's blog they're probably groaning now about possibly having to put lots of effort into fixing it now just because a lot of a lot of angry people on a message board.